title: Which activities threaten independent living of elderly when becoming problematic: inspiration for meaningful service robot functionality.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In light of the increasing elderly population and the growing demand for home care, the potential of robot support is given increasing attention. In this paper, an inventory of activities was made that threaten independent living of elderly when becoming problematic. Results will guide the further development of an existing service robot, the Care-O-bot®.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic literature search of PubMed was performed, focused on the risk factors for institutionalization. Additionally, focus group sessions were conducted in the Netherlands, United Kingdom and France. In these focus group sessions, problematic activities threatening the independence of elderly people were discussed. Three separate target groups were included in the focus group sessions: (1) elderly persons (n = 41), (2) formal caregivers (n = 40) and (3) informal caregivers (n = 32).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Activities within the International Classification of Functioning domains mobility, self-care, and interpersonal interaction and relationships were found to be the most problematic.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A distinct set of daily activities was identified that may threaten independent living, but no single activity could be selected as the main activity causing a loss of independence as it is often a combination of problematic activities that is person-specific. Supporting the problematic activities need not involve a robotic solution.
authors.affiliation: Research Centre Technology in Care, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences , Heerlen , the Netherlands .
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bedaf
authors.forename: Gert Jan
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Gelderblom
authors.forename: Dag Sverre
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Syrdal
authors.forename: Hagen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lehmann
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Michel
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hewson
authors.forename: Farshid
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Amirabdollahian
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dautenhahn
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de Witte
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D064702:International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D012371:Robotics; D012648:Self Care; D012656:Self-Help Devices; D012934:Social Isolation
keywords: Aging in place; elderly care; risk factors for institutionalization; robotics